Surrender

Have you ever been in a situation where you know beyond the shadow of a doubt that God is trying to get your attention about something because everywhere you turn you see or hear something around the same topic? Have you ever been so worried that if you surrender yourself and your life to Christ that He will make you get rid of all your things and move to Africa?

Well.

So.

Hmmmm.

It all started a couple years ago when my brother sent us a letter about a missions trip to Zambia he would be participating in with his church and asked that we prayerfully consider helping him to raise funds to help him go. At that time we were down to one income and our pennies were being stretched as far as possible so we were only able to help by praying for him. The next year, we received another letter from him with the same request for another trip to Zambia. It 'just so happened' (I love it when things 'just so happen'!) that around that same time Brad's boss had requested each partner to find a charity or organization that the company could donate money to. Each would be receiving a generous donation. Brad chose my brother.

Fast forward 4 months to early December 2010. We were out Christmas shopping and 'just so happened' to stop in Family Christian...where World Vision had set up a kiosk to sponsor a child from another country. The kiosk was magnetic and we could not leave the store. We chose Eric. He is from Rwanda.

About a month ago, my brother emailed me on my birthday and at the end of his greeting asked if we wanted to go with them to Zambia next summer. I replied and gave him some excuses as to why we can't. And then I talked with my husband about it and he was interested in finding out more about it, so I emailed my brother back and asked for the dates. He sent me an attachment with all the info and said, "Don't let the cost scare you. If God wants you to go, he will make a way."

And since that day we have been bombarded with something about Africa At. Every.Turn. !!

I don't know what He has in store. Maybe He's not going to have us get rid of our life as we know it and move to Africa. Maybe He just wants us to go on a missions trip there. Maybe not. What I do know is this...

Psalm 139:1-10
1 O Lord, you have searched me and you know me. 2 You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. 3 You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. 4 Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O Lord. 5 You hem me in –behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. 7 Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? 8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. 9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, 10 even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.